A Dark Moon rose silently into the fading Light. Day ran before the menacing black sphere, hurrying from its cool touch. But it woke Ciarin from her slumber, as it always would. She stood effortlessly, her black wings unfurling. With eyes closed she breathed deeply, catching the scent of Day that still lingered sweet and warm upon the air. The fragrance stirred deep memories and brought a sad smile to her blood-red lips. She remembered a world long lost, days bathed in the glow of sunshine. But the memories were fading beneath the centuries, blackened and decaying like her wings. Weak and useless, the fine membranes rotting in the Sun's absence, they could barely flutter much less carry her. Swallowing hard, she steeled herself to walk out into the Darkness and begin her lonely vigil. Light that had danced upon the leaves and grasses not a few moments before would not be there to give them their colour and sheen, and her Orb gave only a faint oily light that distorted the appearance of everything it touched. It will be the Black Moon, a cold and dead thing in the night sky that will guide her ‘til morning. And when its journey across the Night ends she will return to her slumber and wait for the Dark Moon to rise again.